SAN FRANCISCO – Today, District Attorney George Gascón announced that Collin White, age 40, of San Francisco, was sentenced to 9 years for striking, with a single, closed-fist punch, and killing an elderly man, Stuart Jackson, age 74, on December 5th, 2015. Given the nature of the offense, the office sought the maximum sentence of 11 years.

On September 14, 2017, a jury found Mr. White guilty on all four counts, including involuntary manslaughter, assault with force likely to cause serious bodily injury, battery with serious bodily injury, and infliction of injury on an elderly adult likely to cause great bodily injury, as well as an enhancement for causing great bodily injury and the death of Mr. Jackson.

“There are no words to make sense of this dreadful act,” said District Attorney George Gascón. “Unprovoked acts of violence against the elderly in our city are attacks on our community and have to be punished proportionately.”

Based on court records, on December 5, 2015, at approximately 2:00 pm, Mr. White was at a bus stop at the intersection of Van Ness Avenue and Market Street when a woman approached and he spat in her direction for no apparent reason. Shortly after, Stuart Jackson, a 74-year-old San Francisco resident and artist, approached the bus stop. Unprovoked, Mr. White then struck Mr. Jackson on the head with a single, closed-fist punch, knocking him unconscious and unable to brace himself as he fell to the pavement. Mr. White then fled the scene, which was captured by nearby surveillance cameras.

Mr. Jackson was taken to San Francisco General Hospital following the attack, where he passed away on December 13, 2015.

“Collin White assaulted an elderly man on the streets of San Francisco for no apparent reason,” said Assistant District Attorney Julia Cervantes. “That act resulted in Mr. Jackson’s death. My heart goes out to his family and friends. I hope that they can find some comfort in knowing that our streets are safer after today’s outcome.”

The Honorable Brendan Conroy presided. A special acknowledgment goes to San Francisco Police Sergeant Dan Cunningham for recognizing Mr. White from the surveillance video, and to Dr. Susan Singer who stayed with Mr. Jackson while they waited for an ambulance to arrive. Additional thanks go to Paralegal Kayla Harris, DAI Preston Lee, Inspectors Kyra Delaney and Phil Gordon, and Victim Service Advocate Peter Huynh. The outstanding prosecution is an outcome of the superior work done by Assistant District Attorney Julia Cervantes.